Chateau du Roi

Salma Assaf, a resident of the village of Mi’ilya, an avid antiquities enthusiast, and a graduate of the Department of History, began her life’s work about two decades ago with her late husband, Labib Assaf.

Chateau du Roi is housed in a historic building connected to a 12th-century Crusader fortress, built by King Baldwin III to serve as a fortress with a strategic view of Mount Meron.

Chateau du Roi offers you an unforgettable experience. The beautiful building combines Italian cuisine, country charm, history, and cordial hospitality.

The building used to be used for residential purposes, and one room even served the mukhtar of the village. Today the building, located next to the church in the old core of the village, consists of several interior spaces and courtyards and overlooks a beautiful view of the Meron and Hermon Mountains. During the excavation to build the foundations, the Assaf couple uncovered a surprise when they discovered ancient porcelain fragments.

They decided to continue digging and to their surprise, the restoration process uncovered priceless archeological treasures: a crusader wine factory that dates back to the 12th century, and a Roman cistern (well). Both are one of a kind. 

In the restaurant located inside the Crusader fortress, you can dine on the delicacies of chef Elian Layousse who offers traditional Italian cuisine with Galilean touches, sit at the bar for a light meal, and even sleep with one of the guest rooms and all inside a 12th century Crusader fortress in the Christian and picturesque village of Mi’ilya.

At the end of the meal, you can also visit the antiquities found in the basement.

It is an experience that combines the power of the fortress with the warmth and intimacy of the Assaf family, who run the place.

To this day, vision, determination, and love for entertaining people – are the main values ​​that today constitute Chateau du Roi.